Wout van Aert has become the first top pro rider to declare that his racing programme has been changed in a bid to plan for the possible cancellation of Italian classics.
The coronavirus has hit the northern Italian regions of
Lombardy and Veneto, with travel restrictions and religious and sport events
already cancelled there as a precaution.
Milan-Sanremo starts in Lombardy and races through it for
the first section of the race. And though it does not take place for another 3½
weeks, RCS Sport says it is concerned it will be asked by the public health
authorities to cancel the event.
Strade Bianche is set to take place in 10 days and GP
Industria & Artigianato the following day; both in Tuscany.
While it is not a region impacted hardest by the virus,
there have been several cases in Tuscany.
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It means Strade Bianche and GP Industria & Artigianato
on March 7th and 8th are at risk as well as Milan-Sanremo
on March 21st.
Jumbo Visma has anticipated the possible cancellation of
some of these events. The team has changed Van Aerts programme in a bid to
ensure he does not unexpectedly find himself without racing opportunities for a
long period.
It means he will ride Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium this
weekend, though it was not on his original schedule.
Van Aert, who is still on the comeback trail after his awful
Tour de France crash last year, was due to get is road race season started by
riding the three Italian races most immediately at risk.
“With Van Aert’s start in the Omloop, we anticipate possible
cancellation of other races on his programme,” the team said in a clear
reference to the Italian races that were on his programme.
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